[glenn]

The inaugural season of the American Baseball League kicked off today, when Bert Blyleven delivered a ball to Sean Revis to start the season in Chicago. With 10 games on the schedule, it was a full day of baseball as the season finally got underway.

Bronx Bombers 5
Chicago Storm 2

W- T. Seaver (1-0)
L- B. Blyleven(0-1)
SV- R. Fingers (1)
HR- BRX- C. Caudell (1), CHS- J. Peter (1)

In the Eastern League, the Bronx Bombers opened the season at the Chicago Storm. Al Oliver collected a lead-off double in the top of the fourth to collect the league’s first hit. Oliver came around to score the first run on an error by third baseman Rudy Meoli. Clinton Claudell added a two run blast to put the Bombers up 3-0, and that was all starter Tom Seaver needed, as the Bombers hung on to win 5-2. Seaver pitched 8 strong innings, giving up 3 hits and 2 runs, while striking out 5. Rollie Fingers came in to pitch a perfect ninth for his 1st save. Bert Blyleven took the loss for the Storm, despite pitching 7 2/3 innings, striking out 8, and only giving up 2 earned runs. Rod Carew led the Bronx with 2 hits in 5 AB, driving in 1 run.

Player of the Game: Tom Seaver

Baltimore Renegades 5
Chicago Colts 0

W- J. Matlock (1-0)
L- B. Johnson (0-1)

The Baltimore Renegades got a strong outing from youngster Jon Matlock, who pitched 7 1/3 shutout innings in the Renegades 5-0 victory over the Chicago Colts. The Colts got 8 hits and 5 walks, but struggled with runners on base, leaving 12 stranded. Leadoff hitter and CF Billy North was the Colts top hitter, reaching base 4 of 5 times up, with two hits and two walks.

Baltimore spread the wealth on the offensive end, with 7 hitters collecting 8 hits. 5 Renegades drove in a run each, and 5 different Renegades each scored a run. Bart Johnson picked up the loss for the Colts.

Player of the Game: Jon Matlock

Philadelphia Freedom Eagles 9
Detroit Mustangs 4

W- D. Sutton (1-0)
L- A. Caprasquillo (0-1)
HR- DET- T. McCraw (1), G. Kim (1)

The Philadelphia Freedom Eagles put on a show for the home crowd today, scoring 9 runs in their home opener, and beating the Detroit Mustangs 9-4. Don Sutton pitched a complete game, picking up his first win of the year. 8 players drove in a run for the Freedom Eagles, with Walt Walby picking up three hits in four at bats in the ninth slot. It was a sloppy ending for Detroit, giving up 3 runs in the 7th, and 3 runs in the 8th, while committing 3 errors.

Player of the Game: Walt Walby

St. Louis Redbirds 7
Cincinnati Locomotives 1

W- K. Brett (1-0)
L- V. Blue (0-1)
HR- STL-J. Heidemann (1)

The St. Louis Redbirds were led by Ken Brett, who pitched a complete game 2 hitter, to lead the home team to a 7-1 victory over the Cincinnati Locomotives. St. Louis started it off by scoring three unearned runs in the first innings, due to a costly error by 1B Dan Driessen. They broke the game open in the fifth, scoring four runs. Jack Heidemann’s two run homer with two outs drove Cincinnati starter Vida Blue from the game. Blue lasted 4 2/3 innings, giving up all seven of St. Louis runs, four of which were earned.

Player of the Game: Ken Brett

New York Skyliners 7
Boston Pilgrims 6 (10 Innings)

W- D. McMahon (1-0)
L- A. Hrabosky (0-1)
HR- BOS-B. Carbo (1), J. Wynn (1), NYS- D. McGurk (1)

New York needed extra innings to knock off the Boston Pilgrims 7-6 in 10 innings. In a game with an announced attendance of 4276, baseball fans in the largest market in the country made their point by staying away. Don McMahon picked up the win for the Skyliners, despite pitching 1/3 of an inning. New York’s offense was led by catcher Thurman Munson, who went 3-5 with 1 RBI. Jimmy Wynn hit a two run blast in the seventh, which gave Boston a two run lead, but New York came back to score one run in both the bottom of the 8th and bottom of the 9th.

Boston fans celebrated in the top of the 10th, when Jimmy Winn drew a bases loaded, two out walk to put Boston up by one. Boston reliever Al Hrabosky couldn’t do the job in the bottom of the 10th, giving up a single to Buddy Bradford and a homer to pinch hitter Doug McGurk, only throwing two pitches.

Player of the Game: Jimmy Winn

Western League

San DiegoSea Wolves 7
Los Angeles Titans 2

W- R. Grimsley (1-0)
L- F. Jenkins (0-1)
HR- SD-D. Money (1)

Ross Grimsley got the complete game win, despite giving up 14 hits. Dave Kingman went 3-5 and Reggie Jackson went 4-4, but the Titans couldn’t capitalize, leaving 12 on base. Richie Zisk and Keith Hernandez each had two hits for San Diego, and Don Money added his first homer of the year.

Player of the Game: Ross Grimsley

San Antonio Wranglers 6
Fort Worth Cowboys 4

W- F. Tanana (1-0)
L- P. Dobson (0-1)
SV- J. Gelada (1)
HR- SAN-F. Lynn (1), FWC- C. Speier (1)

San Antonio outlasted Fort Worth 6-4 in one of two Texas battles. Frank Tanana picked up the win, despite a shaky performance. Fred Lynn hit a three run homer for the Wranglers.

Player of the Game: Fred Lynn

Los Angeles Wildcats 4
Dallas Mavericks 0

W- D. Gullett (1-0)
L- D. Pagan (0-1)

Don Gullett pitched a complete game shutout, leading the Los Angeles Wildcats to a 4-0 victory over the Dallas Mavericks. Carl Yastrzemski hit an RBI double, and Mike Hegan went 2-4 with 2 RBI to lead the Wildcats. Dave Pagan went 7 1/3 innings for the Mavericks, while picking up the loss.

Player of the Game: Don Gullett

San Jose Bees 6
San Francisco Sky Sox 0

W- G. Garber (1-0)
L- G. Perry (0-1)
SV- T. Murphy (1)
HR- SJ-M. Jorgensen (1), R. Ward (1)

The Bees Gene Garber and Tom Murphy combined for a 6-0 shutout to lead San Jose over San Francisco in the Bay Area showdown. Mike Jorgensen and Ray Ward each went deep for San Jose. Dick Allen and Tom Christie picked up two hits apiece for San Francisco in a losing effort.

Player of the Game: Gene Garber
Austin Westerners 5
Houston Stars 4

W- E. Figueroa (1-0)
L- B. Slayback (0-1)
SV- M. Marshall (1)
HR- AUS- B. Madlock (1), J. Mayberry (1)

The Austin Westerners outlasted the Houston Stars 5-4 to spoil the Stars home opener. John Mayberry and Bill Madlock each went deep for the Westerners, and Ed Figueroa pitched 8 innings picking up the win. Tensions flared in the 8th inning when Bill Slayback hit the next batter following Mayberry’s two run homer. Both benches emptied and Slayback, who took the loss, was tossed from the game, along with Star’s manager Frank Lucchesi. Austin CF Johnny Briggs left the game with a knee injury.

Player of the Game: John Mayberry